Sights · Status checked September 2026
The essential sights.
Updated 29 September 2026
Macau is two cities in one: a 400-year-old Portuguese-Chinese old town, and the Cotai Strip's mega-resorts. These are the sights worth your time, on both sides.
The historic centre
01
Ruins of St. Paul's
The symbol of Macau: the 17th-century stone facade of St. Paul's College church, all that survived the 1835 fire, rising over a grand staircase. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds, then walk down through the old lanes. Free, always open, and the single sight you shouldn't miss.
02
Senado Square
The wave-patterned mosaic square at the heart of the old town, ringed by pastel Portuguese-era buildings: the Leal Senado, the Holy House of Mercy, St. Dominic's Church. The lanes running off it (Rua dos Ervanários, Rua da Felicidade) are Macau's lanes made for wandering and snacking.
03
A-Ma Temple
Macau's oldest temple, predating the Portuguese arrival and the likely origin of the city's name ("A-Ma-Gau"). Incense, moon gates and banyan trees on the hillside above the harbour. Atmospheric at any hour, and a working temple, so visit respectfully.
The modern icons
04
Macau Tower
The 338-metre tower dominates the skyline, and the fireworks are fired in front of it. The observation decks are open daily; the AJ Hackett Skypark runs the 233-metre bungy jump (one of the world's highest), the Skywalk around the outer rim, the Skyjump and the Tower Climb. Macau's adrenaline activities, with prices.
05
teamLab SuperNature
teamLab's immersive digital-art museum inside The Venetian: 5,000 square metres of interactive light installations. Open since June 2020 as a permanent exhibition, with tickets bookable well into 2027. A solid rainy-day or evening option. Book through Klook, Trip.com or the official teamLab site.
06
The Cotai Strip resorts
You don't need to gamble to enjoy Cotai. The Venetian's canals and gondolas, the Parisian's half-scale Eiffel Tower, the Londoner's Big Ben and changing of the guard, Wynn Palace's Performance Lake, the Galaxy's diamond lobby show. The resorts are attractions in themselves, and most areas are open to non-guests. The Strip comes alive in the evening.
07
Grand Lisboa Palace
SJM's flagship on Cotai: a chinoiserie-styled resort that took T+L's Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026 "Best Hotel in Macau". Worth a walk-through for the interiors alone; the Palace Wine Cellar was due to open at the end of 2026.
Beyond the centre
Taipa Village's food streets, Coloane's black-sand beaches and the original Lord Stow's egg tarts, and Hong Kong an hour away by ferry. See our day trips guide.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is the most famous attraction in Macau?
The Ruins of St. Paul's: the 17th-century facade that symbolises the city, at the heart of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. Free and always open.
Is teamLab SuperNature still open?
Yes, it's a permanent exhibition at The Venetian Macao, open since 2020, with tickets on sale well into 2027.
Do I need to gamble to enjoy the Cotai resorts?
No. The canals, towers, shows, restaurants and malls are open to everyone. Most visitors never touch a casino floor.